Waterproof cape



(No Model.)

J. W. ORR.

WATERPROOF CAPE. No. 531,695. Patented Jan. 1, 1895 O IIRUA' Wilgzsscs 07");

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JOHN WADE ORR, OF CORTLAND, NEW .YORK.

WATERPROOF CAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 531,695, dated January 1, 1895.

Application filed March 9, 1894. Serial No. 503,026. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN WADE ORR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cortland, in the county of Cortland and State of New York, have invented a new and useful VVaterproof Garment for Bicyclists, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in waterproof garments for bicyclists. The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of waterproof garmen ts for bicyclists and to provide one which will be entirely closed at the front, back and sides, and which cannot blow open and ex pose the rider, and which will be capable of effectually excluding the rain, and at the same time adapted to permit the rider afree use of his hands.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a garment capable of being thrown over the handle-bar of a bicycle to prevent it from being blown back upon the bicyclist, or to be used without arrangingit on the handle-bar, and adapted to permit the rider to transfer his hands immediately from the interior to the exterior of the skirt or body of the garment without raising the same, to grasp the handle bar from the exterior or interior.

The invention consists in the construction and novel arrangement of parts hereinafter f ully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a waterproof garment constructed in accordance with this invention, and shown applied to a bicyclist. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the sleeve being broken away to show the construction of the arm-opening, and the flap at the top being unbuttoned and turned back.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in both the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a waterproof garment constructed of any desired material that is impervious to rain, and consisting of a tapering or substantially conical body or skirt, extending from the neck of a rider to about the knee when the leg is extended, or of any other suitable length to clear the wheels of a machine. It is provided with an unbroken or placketless front and back to prevent effectually the rain from beating in; and it may be arranged over the handle-bar of the machine or not, as the rider desires. The top of the garment conforms to the neck and shoulders of the rider, and the body portion or skirt is closed at the front, back and sides with the exception at one shoulder, where it is provided with a slot or opening 2 to permit the garment to be donned, and this slot or opening is covered, when the garment is in use, by a flap 3, which is secured by a button 4:, or other desirable fastening device. Instead of employing a slot or opening and an exterior covering flap, an opening may be provided at the front with lacing, buttoning, or any other similar fastening devices, and beneath the same should be arranged a tongue or flap.

The garment is provided at each side with an elongated truncated elliptical arm-opening 5, which is covered by an enlarged loose flowing sleeve 6, whereby the rider may readily transfer his arms from the interior of the garment to the exterior of the same without raising the garment or exposing himself to permit a free and unobstructed use of the hands. The sleeve is tapering, gradually increasing in size from the shoulder of the garment to its bottom; and its side edges are secured to the body of the garment, in advance, and in rear, of the elongated opening 5. The arm opening 5 tapers toward its bottom or lower end. It is covered by the sleeve, which extends a short distance below it, and the sleeve is widest at the bottom, extending in advance, and in rear of, the lower end of the arm opening. This construction enables the garment to cover the handle-bars of the machine, and to be held exteriorly as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, to prevent the wind and rain from beating the garment back upon the rider, and to avoid folds for the collection of water, and it enables the garment to be arranged back of the handle-bars when desired, and at the same time permits the rider the free use of his arms for guiding the machine without raising the garment. The arm openings are nearly the length of the wearers arms, and they thereby enable a rider to transfer his hands rapidly from the interior of the body of the garment to the exterior of the same without liability of them being caught or entangled in the garment.

It will be seen that the rubber garment is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that it is capable of efiectually exeluding wind, rain, and the like, and that it is adapted to permit the rider the free use of his arms, whereby accidents are, in a great measure, prevented.

It will also be apparent that the garment may be constructed of any desired waterproof material, such as the ordinary rubber coats, gossamers, mackintoshes, and the like employ.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What I claim is A waterproof garment for bicyclists, comprising a body portion or skirt enlarged at the bottom andhaving a closed front, back and sides and provided at its top with a slot or opening, and the loose flowing tapering sleeves gradually increasing in size from the shoulder to the lower end and having the side edges permanently secured to the garment and closed at those points, said body portion or skirt being provided with elongated arm holes arranged beneath the sleeves between the side edges thereof and extending from the top of the sleeves to within a short distance of the lower ends thereof to permit the arms of the wearer to be readily transferred from the interior .of the garment to the exterior, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN WADE ORR.

Witnesses:

CALVIN P. WALROD, HARRISON WELLs. 

